Tagging update: Audit & temporary pause on new tags
Digital Publishing is conducting a full audit of the tagging system in AEM. During this process, we are temporarily pausing the creation of new tags.
Why this matters
Tags are a powerful tool to help users find and navigate content. When used effectively, they improve search functionality, support content filtering or personalization features, and contribute to a more cohesive user experience. However, inconsistent or excessive tagging can dilute their impact and cause confusion—for both users and authors.
What we are auditing:
- All existing tags (currently 1674) to identify duplicate or similar terms, redundancies, and outdated terms
- How tags are being used (or not used) across content
- The technical structure, available functionality, and performance of our tag system
Goals of audit:
- Identify tags created or requested but are not currently in use
- Establish a minimum usage threshold to guide decisions about merging, renaming, or deleting tags
- e.g. Tags used zero times will be deleted; tags used fewer than 20 times may be merged or removed if they duplicate higher-use tags
- Reduce the overall number of tags while improving the relevance, consistency, and usability of the tagging system
What this means for you
- We will reach out directly to authors whose content includes low-use, outdated, or duplicate tags to discuss next steps
- If you are aware of tags you no longer need, you can request their removal—we will run a usage report to ensure it’s safe to proceed without impacting other authors or content
- We will not be creating new tags during this pause.
- Some tags may be merged, renamed, or removed as we implement these improvements.
Once the audit is complete, we will:
- Share a proposed, curated hierarchy of approved tags
- Provide guidelines for consistent and effective tag use
- Offer training and resources to support your tagging decisions
We appreciate your cooperation and partnership as we improve our tagging strategy. These changes will make the system easier to manage, improve content discoverability, and better support your goals as a content author.
For tag-related questions or reporting support, contact Kathy Hewak, Project Lead, Digital Publishing, CCS.